U.S. patent number 9,097,561 [Application Number 14/389,741] was granted by the patent office on 2015-08-04 for position transducer.
This patent grant is currently assigned to CITIZEN CHIBA PRECISION CO., LTD., CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is CITIZEN CHIBA PRECISION CO., LTD., CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Asuka Moritaku, Kazunari Ogata, Naoki Ohta, Hideaki Sato, Tomonori Takeda.
United States Patent |
9,097,561 |
Sato , et al. |
August 4, 2015 |
Position transducer
Abstract
Provided is a position transducer which can be manufactured at
low cost, improve the signal-to-noise ratio of an output obtained
from a detector, and obtain a stable output even if the temperature
changes. A position transducer 100 includes a butterfly-shaped
reflector 7 attached to a rotating shaft 2 of a rotation
restriction motor 1, an LED die 4 disposed to face a central
portion of the reflection surface of the reflector 7, a
diffused-light absorbing member disposed on the surfaces of a
diffused light absorber 3 and a case 5, installed on the fixed side
of the motor 1 so as to surround the reflector 7 with a distance
from the reflector 7 at the rear of the reflector 7 as viewed from
the LED die 4 and absorbing illumination light from the LED die 4
which has not illuminated the reflection surface, and detectors 11
mounted on the same printed circuit board 6 as the LED die 4 to
detect an image reflected by the reflector 7.
Inventors: |
Sato; Hideaki (Chiba,
JP), Ogata; Kazunari (Chiba, JP), Ohta;
Naoki (Chiba, JP), Moritaku; Asuka (Chiba,
JP), Takeda; Tomonori (Chiba, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CITIZEN CHIBA PRECISION CO., LTD.
CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD. |
Chiba
Tokyo |
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
CITIZEN CHIBA PRECISION CO.,
LTD. (Chiba, JP)
CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD. (Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
50544775 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/389,741 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2013 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 25, 2013 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2013/078974 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
February 13, 2015 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2014/065404 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 01, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150153204 A1 |
Jun 4, 2015 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 26, 2012 [JP] |
|
|
2012-236661 |
Mar 28, 2013 [JP] |
|
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2013-070399 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01D
5/34715 (20130101); G01D 5/3473 (20130101); G01D
3/036 (20130101); G01D 5/30 (20130101); G01D
5/341 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01D
5/347 (20060101); G01D 5/30 (20060101); G01D
3/036 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
2264781 |
|
Sep 1993 |
|
GB |
|
S64-37619 |
|
Mar 1989 |
|
JP |
|
2001-4647 |
|
Jan 2001 |
|
JP |
|
2002-512364 |
|
Apr 2002 |
|
JP |
|
2004-340929 |
|
Dec 2004 |
|
JP |
|
2005-164588 |
|
Jun 2005 |
|
JP |
|
2007-528021 |
|
Oct 2007 |
|
JP |
|
2009-542178 |
|
Nov 2009 |
|
JP |
|
99/54688 |
|
Oct 1999 |
|
WO |
|
2005/088355 |
|
Sep 2005 |
|
WO |
|
2008/054879 |
|
May 2008 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
International Search Report for PCT/JP2013/078974, Dec. 3, 2013.
cited by applicant .
Japan Patent Office, Office Action for Japanese Patent Application
No. 2013-070399, Apr. 15, 2014. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Legasse, Jr.; Francis M
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A position transducer comprising: a reflector attached to a
rotating shaft of a rotation restriction motor, the reflector
having a plurality of reflection surfaces protruding radially from
the rotating shaft; diffused light sources disposed so as to face a
central portion of the reflection surfaces of the reflector, the
number of diffused light sources being the same as that of the
reflection surfaces; a diffused-light absorbing member installed on
a fixed side of the rotation restriction motor so as to surround
the reflector with a distance from the reflector at the rear of the
reflector as viewed from the diffused light sources the
diffused-light absorbing member absorbing illumination light from
the diffused light sources which has not illuminated the reflection
surfaces; and a plurality of detectors mounted on the same printed
circuit board as the diffused light sources to detect an image
reflected by the reflector, wherein the diffused light sources and
the plurality of detectors are disposed in accordance with an angle
formed by the plurality of reflection surfaces.
2. The position transducer according to claim 1, wherein the
diffused-light absorbing member has a fine structure provided by
surface treatment and absorbs the illumination light by repeatedly
reflecting the illumination light within the fine structure.
3. The position transducer according to claim 2, wherein as the
reflection surfaces, the reflector has a plurality of reflection
surfaces protruding radially from the rotating shaft on the same
plane.
4. The position transducer according to claim 3, wherein the
diffused light sources are LEDs in the same number as that of the
reflection surfaces.
5. The position transducer according to claim 3, wherein the
reflector has reflection surfaces, in the shape of a butterfly as
the reflection surfaces.
6. The position transducer according to claim 3, wherein the
plurality of detectors is two sets of photodiodes, each set
including photodiodes in the number corresponding to that of the
reflection surfaces, and the two sets of photodiodes are disposed
side by side so as to alternately surround the rotating shaft.
7. The position transducer according to claim 1, wherein a metal
coating is applied to the reflection surfaces of the reflector.
8. The position transducer according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of detectors each outputs a signal that continuously
increases or decreases in accordance with a continuous increase or
decrease in a light receiving region in each detector when the
position of an image by the reflector moves due to rotation, and
the position transducer further comprises a signal processing
circuit connected to each of the plurality of detectors, the signal
processing circuit outputting a voltage value corresponding to an
increase or decrease in the light receiving region.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a position transducer to be
mounted on a rotation restriction motor configured to drive optical
parts, such as a mirror, for scanning laser light.
BACKGROUND ART
Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration of a conventional
reflection-type optical position transducer system. FIG. 13A to
FIG. 13E are diagrams for explaining the reflection-type optical
position transducer system. FIG. 13A to FIG. 13E respectively show
an illustrative schematic isometric view of the position transducer
system, an illustrative schematic isometric bottom view of a
reflector element in the position transducer system, an
illustrative schematic plan view of a light source and a detector
circuit of the position transducer system, an illustrative
schematic bottom view of the reflector element, and an illustrative
schematic side section view of a rotation restriction motor
system.
The conventional reflection-type optical position transducer
includes a single LED light source 26, a reflector 12 attached to a
rotating shaft of a rotation restriction motor and alternately
having regions providing specular reflection and regions providing
illumination absorption, and a detector 14 that receives reflected
illumination light from the reflector. The reflector 12 is attached
to the upper end part of a rotator shaft 30 that rotates within a
housing 32. On the surface of the reflector 12 facing the detector
14, three specular reflection regions 16 and three illumination
absorption regions 18 are formed and disposed alternately. In the
detector 14, the single LED light source 26 is disposed at the
center, a light shielding unit 28, such as an O-ring, is attached
on the periphery thereof, and further three pairs of detector
regions 20a and 20b, 22a and 22b, and 24a and 24b are provided on
the periphery of the light shielding unit 28. Light emitted from
the single LED light source 26 is reflected by the specular
reflection regions 16, and received by the detector regions 20a and
20b, 22a and 22b, and 24a and 24b. The received light output is
processed in a processing circuit.
Patent Literature discloses a structure of an optical system of an
optical rotary encoder. The encoder includes a light source, a
rotary scale, a reflector, and a light-receiving element. The light
source is provided in the vicinity on the rotation center line of a
rotating shaft. The rotary scale is attached to the rotating shaft
so as to be capable of rotating about the rotation center line, and
has an optical pattern including light-transmitting parts and light
shielding parts formed alternately in the circumferential
direction. The reflector is disposed with an interval from the
rotary scale, and reflects light from the light source so that the
light forms a parallel light flux whose width almost does not
change within the section including the rotation center line, and
thereby, the parallel light flux illuminates the light-transmitting
parts of the rotary scale and the light having passed through the
light-transmitting parts travels toward the periphery of the light
source. The light-receiving element receives the light having
passed through the light-transmitting parts. The optical rotary
encoder according to Patent Literature 2 is a transducer that
detects bright and dark light from the reflector by a detector,
encodes the light in a circuit in the subsequent stage, and thereby
obtains position information.
Patent Literature 3 relates to an encoder as in Patent Literature
2, and discloses an optical system that utilizes a reflective
cylindrical surface. In this encoder, a module including a
photo-detector and a light source is disposed to face a drum. On
the surface in the circumferential direction of the drum,
stripe-shaped non-reflection regions are provided at regular
intervals. The drum is illuminated with light of the light source,
and the light reflected thereby is detected by the photo-detector.
Patent Literature 3 discloses an optical system and a detection
method unique to an encoder that illuminates non-reflection regions
disposed in the form of a stripe on the surface of the drum and the
reflection regions therebetween with light, and that detects the
rotation position of the non-reflection regions by reflected
light.
Patent Literature 4 discloses a structure of a rotary motor for
detecting a rotation position. In this rotary motor, in order to
detect the rotation position thereof, a butterfly-shaped diffusion
surface having an angle width of 90 degrees is attached to a rotor
shaft. The diffusion surface has an opaque surface in the shape of
a disc in the vicinity of the central part (see Patent Literature
4, FIG. 1B). A lens is disposed to face the diffusion surface, and
behind the lens, a stationary detector is installed. As a light
source, four LEDs are disposed on both sides of the lens. Light
emitted from the four LEDs is reflected by the rotating diffusion
surface, and the reflected light is concentrated by the lens and
received by the stationary detector. In the rotary motor in Patent
Literature 4, the LEDs and the detector are disposed not on the
same plane but in different spaces, and from each of the four LED
light sources, light is illuminated toward each of the reflection
surfaces.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2009-542178 Patent Literature 2 Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. 2004-340929 Patent Literature 3 Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-164588 Patent Literature 4
UK Patent Application Publication No. 2264781
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
If a reflection region and a non-reflection region exist on the
same plane of a reflector and the optical distance from an LED
light source to the reflector and the optical distance from the
reflector to a detector are the same, a contrast difference of an
image projected onto the detector becomes unlikely to appear, and
therefore, the noise characteristics of a signal output from the
detector are degraded. The noise characteristics refer to a ratio
of a signal by light from the reflection region to a noise signal
by light from the non-reflection region (S/N ratio), and in the
following, this is also referred to as a "contrast ratio".
If the contrast ratio is reduced, it is necessary to increase the
amount of light by increasing a current flowing through the LED
light source so that a sufficient signal is output from the
detector. If doing so, the junction temperature of the LED light
source rises and the temperature of the LED light source will
change. Further, if the reflection region and the non-reflection
region are provided alternately on the same plane, light is
absorbed and therefore, the temperature of the surface of the
reflector becomes more likely to rise than that in the peripheral
environment. The absorption rate of the non-reflection region
changes depending on the illumination wavelength, and also
depending on temperature. As a result, the peak wavelength of the
LED light source changes depending on temperature and the
absorption rate of the non-reflection region changes depending on
temperature, and therefore, the temperature characteristics of the
position transducer are degraded.
Further, in order to provide a contrast by the reflector in which
the reflection region and the non-reflection region are provided on
the same plane, it is necessary to take great care of the surface
roughness state of the non-reflection region and in selection of
the non-reflection coating agent, and therefore, there is a limit
to manufacture and an expensive reflector will result.
In light of the above circumstances, an object of the present
invention is to provide a position transducer which can be
manufactured at low cost, improve the signal-to-noise ratio of an
output obtained from a detector, and obtain a stable output even if
the temperature changes.
A position transducer according to the present invention includes a
reflector attached to a rotating shaft of a rotation restriction
motor, a diffused light source disposed so as to face a central
portion of a reflection surface of the reflector, a diffused-light
absorbing member installed on a fixed side of the rotation
restriction motor so as to surround the reflector with a distance
from the reflector at the rear of the reflector as viewed from the
diffused light source, the diffused-light absorbing member
absorbing illumination light from the diffused light source which
has not illuminated the reflection surface, and a plurality of
detectors mounted on the same printed circuit board as the diffused
light source to detect an image reflected by the reflector.
Preferably, in the position transducer according to the present
invention, the diffused-light absorbing member has a fine structure
provided by surface treatment and absorbs the illumination light by
repeatedly reflecting the illumination light within the fine
structure.
Preferably, in the position transducer according to the present
invention, as the reflection surface, the reflector has a plurality
of reflection surfaces protruding radially from the rotating shaft
on the same plane.
Preferably, in the position transducer according to the present
invention, the diffused light source is LEDs in the same number as
that of the reflection surfaces.
Preferably, in the position transducer according to the present
invention, the reflector has a reflection surface in the shape of a
butterfly as the reflection surface.
Preferably, in the position transducer according to the present
invention, the plurality of detectors is two sets of photodiodes,
each set including photodiodes in the number corresponding to that
of the reflection surfaces, and the two sets of photodiodes are
disposed side by side so as to alternately surround the rotating
shaft.
Preferably, in the position transducer according to the present
invention, a metal coating is applied to the reflection surface of
the reflector.
Preferably, in the position transducer according to the present
invention, the plurality of detectors each outputs a signal that
continuously increases or decreases in accordance with a continuous
increase or decrease in a light receiving region in each detector
when the position of an image by the reflector moves due to
rotation, and the position transducer further includes a signal
processing circuit connected to each of the plurality of detectors,
the signal processing circuit outputting a voltage value
corresponding to an increase or decrease in the light receiving
region.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a
position transducer which can be manufactured at low cost, improve
the signal-to-noise ratio of an output obtained from a detector,
and obtain a stable output even if the temperature changes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a longitudinal section view of a position transducer
100;
FIG. 1B is a longitudinal section view of the position transducer
100 when viewed from a lateral direction 90 degrees rotated from
the viewing direction in FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of the position transducer
100;
FIG. 1D is a perspective view illustrating the state where the
position transducer 100 is in the assembling process, with part of
which being cut away;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the surface of the diffused-light
absorbing member 3d;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the butterfly-shaped reflector 7;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a disposition of the detector 11
on the printed circuit board 6;
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the signal processing circuit 13 of
the position transducer 100;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating positional relationships between
the photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and B2 and images 12a, 12b, and 12c in
the shape of a butterfly;
FIG. 7 is a graph indicating a relationship between the position
transducer output Vo and the rotation angle;
FIG. 8A is a longitudinal section view of a position transducer
200;
FIG. 8B is a longitudinal section view of the position transducer
200 when the butterfly-shaped reflector 7 in FIG. 8A is rotated by
90 degrees;
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship
between the LED dies 4a and 4b and the photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and
B2;
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating waveforms of the output voltages
of the current-voltage conversion units 21a and 21b;
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining modified examples of the
reflector;
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of a signal processing circuit 13' of
a position transducer that uses the clover-shaped reflector 72 in
FIG. 11B; and
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a conventional optical position
transducer using reflected illumination.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a position transducer
according to the present invention will be explained in detail.
However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present
invention is not limited to embodiments thereof and includes the
invention described in claims and equivalents thereof.
FIG. 1A is a longitudinal section view of a position transducer
100. FIG. 1B is a longitudinal section view of the position
transducer 100 when viewed from a lateral direction 90 degrees
rotated from the viewing direction in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is an
exploded perspective view of the position transducer 100. FIG. 1D
is a perspective view illustrating the state where the position
transducer 100 is in the assembling process, with part of which
being cut away.
The position transducer 100 includes a rotation restriction motor
1, a diffused light absorber 3, an LED die 4, a case 5, a printed
circuit board 6, a butterfly-shaped reflector 7, a detector 11,
etc. The position transducer 100 is a reflection-type optical
position transducer that detects a rotation angle of the rotation
restriction motor 1 by detecting, with the detector 11, light
emitted from the LED die 4 and reflected by the butterfly-shaped
reflector 7.
The rotation restriction motor 1 has a rotating shaft 2 at the end
part of a rotor 10, and the rotating shaft 2 is supported by a
bearing 8. At the tip end part of the rotating shaft 2, a reflector
attachment part 2a protrudes. To the reflector attachment part 2a,
the butterfly-shaped reflector 7 is attached. By the drive of the
rotation restriction motor 1, the butterfly-shaped reflector 7
rotates together with the rotating shaft 2.
On the top part of the rotation restriction motor 1, the diffused
light absorber 3 is disposed with a distance from the
butterfly-shaped reflector 7. As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the
diffused light absorber 3 has a disc-shaped part 3c, a
trapezoid-shaped part 3a formed in the vicinity of the center of
the disc-shaped part 3c, and a through-hole 3b formed in the center
of the trapezoid-shaped part 3a. The diffused light absorber 3 is
attached to the top end of the rotation restriction motor 1 so that
the rotating shaft 2 is inserted into the through-hole 3b. The
diffused light absorber 3 is incorporated in the cylindrical case
5.
The diffused light absorber 3 and the case 5 are the members on the
fixed side that do not rotate by the rotation restriction motor 1.
On the surfaces of the diffused light absorber 3 and the case 5 on
the fixed side with a distance from the reflection surfaces of the
butterfly-shaped reflector 7, a diffused-light absorbing member 3d
(see FIG. 2) that absorbs light from the LED die 4 is disposed. In
other words, the internal space formed by the diffused light
absorber 3 and the case 5 is surrounded by the diffused-light
absorbing member 3d.
The diffused light absorber 3 and the case 5 absorb light emitted
from the LED die 4 and which has not illuminated the
butterfly-shaped reflector 7 with the diffused-light absorbing
member 3d.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the surface of the diffused-light
absorbing member 3d. The diffused-light absorbing member 3d is a
black member having been subjected to surface treatment, and has a
three-dimensional, complicated fine structure with bumps and dips
having a pitch and a height corresponding to wavelengths of light.
The diffused-light absorbing member 3d confines and absorbs light L
incident on the surface thereof by repeatedly reflecting the light
by the fine structure (stray light effect). The surface treatment
is performed by a method, such as vapor deposition, plating,
inorganic baking finish, and electrostatic flocking.
Regarding case 5, the printed circuit board 6 is attached so as to
cover the case 5. The LED die 4 is mounted at the position
corresponding to the center of the rotating shaft 2 on the
undersurface of the printed circuit board 6 as illustrated in FIG.
1A. The LED die 4 is disposed on the printed circuit board 6 so as
to face the butterfly-shaped reflector 7. The LED die 4 is a
diffused light source that emits light from one point in such a
manner that the emitted light is radiated with a predetermined
spread. In FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, light illuminated from the LED die
4 is indicated by arrows. In the position transducer 100, as the
LED die 4, for example, aluminum gallium arsenic (AlGaAs) whose
peak wavelength is 870 nm is used.
To the printed circuit board 6, a connector 9 having a ten-pin
terminal is attached. Each pin of the connector 9 is electrically
connected to each land of a pattern (not illustrated) formed on the
printed circuit board 6 by soldering, etc. In FIG. 1C, five pins 9a
are seen, but the remaining pins are not seen because of being
disposed on the backside of the connector. Each pin is connected to
a pattern leading to terminals of the detector 11 and the LED die
4. To the connector 9, a female (or male) connector (not
illustrated), to which a connection terminal of a signal processing
circuit, etc., is connected, is electrically coupled.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the butterfly-shaped reflector 7. The
butterfly-shaped reflector 7 has an attachment hole 7a for
attachment to the reflector attachment part 2a of the rotating
shaft 2 by fitting, and has flat reflection surfaces 7b in the
shape of a butterfly protruding from the center. The
butterfly-shaped reflector 7 has the reflection surfaces 7b, which
are a reflection region, but does not have a non-reflection region,
unlike the reflector 12 in FIG. 13B. Light emitted from the LED die
4 and which has illuminated a reflection surface 7b of the
butterfly-shaped reflector 7 is reflected by the reflection surface
7b toward the detector 11. On the other hand, part of the light
emitted from the LED die 4, which has passed through the region
other than the reflection surfaces 7b and reached to the backside
of the butterfly-shaped reflector 7, is absorbed by the
diffused-light absorbing member 3d.
The butterfly-shaped reflector 7 is fabricated by machining a metal
plate machined by a mirror finish, such as cold rolling, into the
shape of a butterfly by etching or wirecut. Further, it may also be
possible to improve the reflectance of the butterfly-shaped
reflector 7 by applying a metal coating to the reflection surfaces
7b by vapor deposition of aluminum, silver, or gold.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a disposition of the detector 11
on the printed circuit board 6. The detector 11 includes four
photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and B2, and these photodiodes are disposed
around the LED die 4 on the undersurface of the printed circuit
board 6. Each photodiode is configured by a silicon wafer having a
sensitive wavelength of 800 to 900 nm. The LED die 4 and the
photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and B2 are mounted directly on the printed
circuit board 6 without being packaged (chip on board).
The respective photodiodes are mounted so that the photodiodes A1
and A2 face each other with the LED die 4 disposed at the center
point of the printed circuit board 6 being sandwiched in between,
and that the photodiodes B1 and B2 face each other in the same
manner. The photodiodes A1 and B1 are attached so as to be close to
each other and so the photodiodes B2 and A2. The photodiodes A1 and
A2 of the four photodiodes A1 and B1, B2 and A2 are connected in
parallel to form a pair, and the photodiodes B1 and B2 are
connected in parallel to form another pair.
An image in the shape of a butterfly emitted from the LED die 4 and
reflected by the butterfly-shaped reflector 7 moves accompanying
the rotation of the rotation restriction motor 1. The two pairs of
photodiodes receive the image, and output a photoelectric current
corresponding to the area of the light receiving region.
Photoelectric currents Ia and Ib output from the two pairs of
photodiodes are subjected to current-voltage conversion by a signal
processing circuit 13, to be explained next, into Va and Vb,
respectively. A voltage difference Va-Vb is an output of the
position transducer 100.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the signal processing circuit 13 of
the position transducer 100. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1A to
FIG. 1D, the position transducer 100 has the signal processing
circuit 13 that converts the photoelectric currents by the
photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and B2 corresponding to the rotation angle
of the rotation restriction motor 1 into voltage signals. In order
to obtain a position transducer output with a high accuracy, the
signal processing circuit 13 has an AGC circuit 28a that performs
temperature compensation and linear compensation for the
temperature change that cannot be compensated for by the optical
system.
The current Ia, which is the output of the photodiodes A1 and A2,
is input to a current-voltage conversion unit 21a. Further, the
current Ib, which is the output of the photodiodes B1 and B2, is
input to a current-voltage conversion unit 21b. The output voltage
Va of the current-voltage conversion unit 21a and the output
voltage Vb of the current-voltage conversion unit 21b are input to
a subtractor 22, and subjected to subtraction processing.
Further, the output voltage Va of the current-voltage conversion
unit 21a and the output voltage Vb of the current-voltage
conversion unit 21b are guided to the AGC circuit 28a and added in
an adder 23. The addition output is compared with a reference
voltage Vref by a comparator 24. The output of the comparator 24 is
subjected to integration processing in an integration circuit 25,
and amplified by a current amplifier 26a. Due to this, via a
resistor 27, a current If is supplied to an LED 20. A position
transducer output Vo processed in the signal processing circuit 13
will be as follows. Vo=(Ia-Ib)Vref/(Ia+Ib) (1)
FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C are diagrams illustrating positional
relationships between the photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and B2 and images
12a, 12b, and 12c in the shape of a butterfly. The image
illuminated to the photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and B2 from the
butterfly-shaped reflector 7 moves in accordance with the rotation
angle of the rotation restriction motor 1 as the images 12a, 12b,
and 12c in FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C.
In the following, the area of the light receiving region of the
photodiodes A1 and A2 is denoted by Sa, and the light receiving
region of the photodiodes A1 and A2 is referred to as an "Sa
region". Similarly, the area of the light receiving region of the
photodiodes B1 and B2 is denoted by Sb, and the light receiving
region of the photodiodes B1 and B2 is referred to as an "Sb
region". FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C illustrate the case where the Sa region
is larger than the Sb region, the case where the Sa region and the
Sb region are of the same size, and the case where the Sa region is
smaller than the Sb region, respectively.
For example, assume that the rotation angles corresponding to the
butterfly-shaped images 12a, 12b, and 12c are positive, zero, and
negative, respectively. Then, in the case in FIG. 6A, the area
difference is Sa-Sb>0, and therefore, the output voltage of the
position transducer 100 is Va-Vb>0 corresponding to the positive
rotation angle. In the case in FIG. 6B, the area difference is
Sa-Sb=0, and therefore, the output voltage of the position
transducer 100 is Va-Vb=0 corresponding to the zero rotation angle.
In the case in
FIG. 6C, the area difference is Sa-Sb<0, and therefore, the
output voltage of the position transducer 100 is Va-Vb<0
corresponding to the negative rotation angle.
FIG. 7 is a graph indicating a relationship between the position
transducer output Vo and the rotation angle. As illustrated in FIG.
7, the position transducer output increases in proportion to the
rotation angle.
In general, if it is assumed that the conversion factor of the
photoelectric current for illumination from the reflector is Kr,
the light receiving areas of light from the reflector are Sa and
Sb, the reflectance of the reflector is .alpha., the conversion
factor of the photoelectric current for illumination from the
diffused light absorber is Ke, the total area of the photodiodes is
S, the light receiving areas of reflection from the diffused light
absorber are S-Sa and S-Sb, and the reflectance of the diffused
light absorber is .beta., then the photoelectric currents Ia and Ib
of the photodiodes are as follows. Ia=KrSa.alpha.+Ke(S-Sa).beta.
(2) Ib=KrSb.alpha.+Ke(S-Sb).beta. (3) By substituting these
expressions in the expression (1), the output Vo close to the
actual voltage is calculated.
In the case where the optical distance until of diffused light
which reaches the detector via the reflector and the optical
distance of the diffused light which reaches the detector via the
diffused light absorber are substantially the same, unless the
ratio of .beta. to .alpha. is reduced, a good contrast is not
obtained and the noise characteristics deteriorate. In order to
increase the signal of the position transducer, it is necessary to
increase the forward current of the LED, and therefore, the
junction temperature of the LED light source rises and affects the
temperature change of the LED light source.
In the case where Sa=Sb as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the numerator
term in the expression (1) becomes zero, and therefore, the output
of the position transducer is not changed by temperature. However,
in the case where Sa.noteq.Sb as illustrated in FIG. 6A and FIG.
6C, the ratio of .beta. to .alpha. changes due to temperature, and
therefore, a drift, which is a change in the output of the position
transducer, occurs when the temperature changes. Because of this
drift, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the slope of the proportion
relationship between the position transducer output Vo and the
rotation angle changes. This drift is referred to as a "gain
drift". The gain drift of a position transducer with a high
accuracy is demanded to be as small as possible. Further, keeping
the above-described Ke or .beta. small makes it possible to bring
the expression (1) close to an ideal expression. In other words, it
is possible to reduce the gain drift.
The reflected light attenuates in inverse proportion to the square
of the optical distance, and therefore, in the position transducer
100, by appropriately setting the distance from the
butterfly-shaped reflector 7 to the diffused light absorber 3 on
the fixed side, the conversion factor Ke of the photoelectric
current for the illumination from the diffused light absorber 3 is
reduced. Due to this, a good contrast ratio is obtained compared to
the case where the reflection region and the non-reflection region
are provided on the same plane of the reflector, and the
signal-to-noise ratio of the position transducer is improved.
Further, the influence of the change in the emitted light
wavelengths by the temperature of the LED die 4 and the influence
of the change in the absorption rate of the diffused light absorber
3 by the temperature rise are reduced, and the stability of the
output against temperature is improved.
Further, in the position transducer 100, the reflection region and
the non-reflection region are configured by the butterfly-shaped
reflector 7 and the diffused light absorber 3 installed on the
fixed side with a distance from the reflector. Due to this, even if
reflective or non-reflective fine particles have stuck to the
reflector, the image illuminated onto the reflector becomes more
unlikely to be affected adversely. Further, in the position
transducer 100, the reflection region and the non-reflection region
are made as different members, and therefore, it is easy to form
the reflection region and the non-reflection region as a
highly-reflective film and a highly-absorptive film, respectively.
Furthermore, the butterfly-shaped reflector 7 has no portion of the
non-reflection region, and thus has a low inertia, and this is
advantageous to the high-speed responsiveness of the rotation
restriction motor 1.
FIG. 8A is a longitudinal section view of a position transducer
200. FIG. 8B is a longitudinal section view of the position
transducer 200 when the butterfly-shaped reflector 7 in FIG. 8A is
rotated by 90 degrees. While the position transducer 100
illustrated in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D has one LED die as a diffused
light source, the position transducer 200 illustrated in FIG. 8A
and FIG. 8B has two LED dies as a diffused light source. In other
points, the configuration of the position transducer 200 is the
same as that of the position transducer 100. In the following,
points of the position transducer 200 different from those of the
position transducer 100 are explained. Explanation of points in
common to those of the position transducer 100 is omitted.
In the position transducer 200, two LED dies 4a and 4b are disposed
at the positions corresponding to the center of the rotating shaft
2 on the undersurface of the printed circuit board 6 so as to face
the butterfly-shaped reflector 7. The LED dies 4a and 4b are
identical diffused light sources, and illuminates light toward the
butterfly-shaped reflector 7. In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, light
illuminated from the LED dies 4a and 4b is indicated by arrows. The
LED dies 4a and 4b are also mounted on the printed circuit board 6
by chip on board.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship
between the LED dies 4a and 4b and the photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and
B2. In FIG. 9, for explanation, the butterfly-shaped reflector 7 is
also illustrated in the overlapped state. In the position
transducer 200, the LED dies 4a and 4b and the photodiodes A1, A2,
B1, and B2 are disposed so that the reflection surface 7b on one
side of the butterfly-shaped reflector 7, and the LED die 4a and
the photodiodes A1 and B1 correspond to each other, and that a
reflection surface 7c on the other side, and the LED die 4b and the
photodiodes A2 and B2 correspond to each other. In other words, the
LED die 4a illuminates the reflection surface 7b and reflected
light from the reflection surface 7b is received by the photodiodes
A1 and B1. The LED die 4b illuminates the reflection surface 7c,
and reflected light from the reflection surface 7c is received by
the photodiodes A2 and B2.
The signal processing circuit of the position transducer 200 is the
same as the signal processing circuit 13 illustrated in FIG. 5
except in that two LEDs 20 are connected in series.
As described above, by using two LED dies as the diffused light
source, the intensities of emitted light are averaged and the
variations due to the individual difference between the LEDs are
also averaged. Because of this, the output is further stabilized in
the position transducer 200 than in the position transducer 100.
Further, in the position transducer 200, the same output as that
when there is only one LED die can be obtained, even if the forward
current of the LED is reduced compared to that in the case of the
position transducer 100. As a result, in the position transducer
200, it is possible to reduce the forward current of the LED while
maintaining a good contrast ratio. Further, if the forward current
of the LED is reduced, the influence of the junction temperature of
the LEDs becomes slight and the stability of the output against
temperature is further improved. Furthermore, reducing the forward
current of the LED leads to advantageous effects in that power is
saved and the lifetime of the LEDs is lengthened.
In the following, the results of the experiments are explained in
which a position transducer similar to that in FIG. 13A to FIG.
13E, the position transducer 100, and the position transducer 200
are compared.
Table 1 is a table indicating the results of measuring contrast
ratios of the output voltages of the position transducers under
different conditions. In the measurement, the rotation restriction
motor 1 is rotated endlessly, the output voltages of the
photodiodes A1, A2, B1, and B2, i.e., the output voltages Va and Vb
of the current-voltage conversion units 21a and 21b are observed
with an oscilloscope, and P-P (peak-to-peak) voltages and offset
voltages are measured. The measurement is performed with the
forward current of the LED being fixed to 30 mA.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Condi- P-P voltage (V) Offset voltage (V)
Contrast ratio tion Va Vb Va Vb Va Vb (1) 0.7058 0.6735 2.079 2.031
0.34 0.33 (2) 3.532 3.534 0.1700 0.1102 20.8 32.1 (3) 6.903 6.859
0.3547 0.3653 19.5 18.8 (4) 8.467 8.41 0.2791 0.3082 30.3 27.3
The P-P voltage is a component depending on the received reflected
light from the reflector, and corresponds to the maximum amount of
change in KrSa.alpha. and KrSb.alpha., which are the first term of
the expression (2) and that of the expression (3), respectively.
The offset voltage is a component depending on the received
reflected light from a portion other than the reflector, and
corresponds to Ke(S-Sa).beta. and Ke(S-Sb).beta., which are the
second term of the expression (2) and that of the expression (3),
respectively. The contrast ratio is a ratio of the P-P voltage to
the offset voltage.
Conditions (1) to (4) are as follows. Condition (1): a position
transducer similar to FIG. 13A to FIG. 13E is used in which the LED
light source is one in number, both the reflection region and the
non-reflection region are included in the reflector, and the
reflector and the detector are not surrounded by the diffused-light
absorbing member. Conditions (2): the position transducer 100 is
used in which the LED light source is one in number, the
butterfly-shaped reflector is used, and the reflector and the
detector are surrounded by the diffused-light absorbing member.
Condition (3): the position transducer 200 is used in which the LED
light sources are two in number, the butterfly-shaped reflector is
used, and the reflector and the detector are surrounded by the
diffused-light absorbing member. Condition (4): the position
transducer 200 in Condition (3) is used in which a highly
reflective metal coating is further applied to the butterfly-shaped
reflector. The highly reflective metal coating is applied to the
reflector only in Condition (4).
While the contrast ratio under Condition (1) is about 0.3, the
contrast ratio under Condition (2) is not less than 20. By virtue
of the butterfly-shaped reflector and the diffused-light absorbing
member, compared to the position transducer similar to FIG. 13A to
FIG. 13E, the contrast ratio of the position transducer 100 is
considerably improved.
Under Condition (3), the P-P voltage and the offset voltage are
substantially doubled compared to those under Condition (2), and
the contrast ratio is substantially the same as that under
Condition (2). As indicated by this, in the position transducer
200, by using two LED light sources, output voltages twice those
when using one LED light source are obtained with the same LED
forward current. Consequently, in the position transducer 200, it
is possible to reduce the LED forward current to about 1/2 while
keeping the contrast ratio about the same as that of the position
transducer 100.
The contrast ratio under Condition (4) is about 30 due to the metal
coating, and is further improved compared to about 20 under
Condition (3). Because of this, in the case where the highly
reflective metal coating is applied to the butterfly-shaped
reflector, it is possible to further reduce the LED forward current
to about 2/3 compared to that in the case where no coating is
applied.
FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are diagrams illustrating waveforms of the
output voltages of the current-voltage conversion units 21a and
21b. In each diagram, the vertical axis represents the voltage (V),
and the horizontal axis represents the time (ms). FIG. 10A and FIG.
10B illustrate the output voltages Va and Vb of the current-voltage
conversion units 21a and 21b under Conditions (2) and (3) described
above, respectively. Since the voltage value changes in accordance
with the rotation angle of the rotation restriction motor 1, FIG.
10A also illustrates the correspondence between the rotation angle
and the voltage value. In the waveforms of the output voltages
under Condition (3), distortions are observed in the portions
surrounded by broken line circles in FIG. 10B. However, what is
actually necessary as the output of the position transducer is only
the voltage in the range corresponding to the rotation angle
(mechanical angle) of about 45 degrees illustrated in FIG. 10B, and
the distortions in the waveforms occur outside the range. As a
result, the distortions in the waveforms in FIG. 10B do not raise
any practical problem.
Although not illustrated schematically, in the case of Condition
(4), as in FIG. 10B, distortions are also observed in the
waveforms. However, in the case of Condition (4), the distortions
in the waveforms also occur outside the range of the rotation angle
(mechanical angle) of about 45 degrees, the voltage in which is
actually necessary. As a result, the distortions in the waveforms
under Condition (4) do not raise any practical problem.
Table 2 is a table indicating the results of measuring the LED
forward current (current If in FIG. 5) under Conditions (2) to (4)
described above. The table indicates the results of comparison and
measurement on condition that the circuit constant in FIG. 5 is the
same value, and indicates values obtained by averaging measured
values of samples of 13 to 18 devices.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Condition LED forward current (mA) (2) 25.8
(3) 12.2 (4) 6.9
Under Condition (3) in which the LED light sources are two in
number, the LED forward current is reduced to about 1/2 compared to
Condition (2) in which the LED light source is one in number. Under
Condition (4) in which the metal coating is applied to the
reflector, the LED forward current is further reduced to about 2/3
compared to that under Condition (3).
Table 3 is a table indicating the results of measuring the change
in the output (gain drift) of the position transducers depending on
temperature under Conditions (1) to (3) described above. In
addition to the results under Conditions (1) to (3), the result
under Condition (1)': a position transducer is used in which the
LED light source is one in number, the butterfly-shaped reflector
is used, and the reflector and the detector are not surrounded by
the diffused-light absorbing member is also indicated.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Condition Gain drift (1) 200 to 500
ppm/.degree. C. (1)' 100 to 200 ppm/.degree. C. (2) 50 ppm/.degree.
C. or less (3) 40 ppm/.degree. C. or less
In the case of Condition (2) in which the position transducer 100
is used, due to the effect of the butterfly-shaped reflector and
the diffused-light absorbing member, the gain drift is improved to
1/2 or less compared to the cases of Conditions (1) and (1)'. In
the case of Condition (3) in which the position transducer 200 is
used, by providing two LED light sources, the gain drift is further
improved by about 10 ppm/.degree. C. From this, it can be seen that
in the position transducers 100 and 200, the stability of the
output against temperature is further improved. In the case of
Condition (4) described above, it is considered that the gain drift
will be further improved from 40 ppm/.degree. C. by applying a
metal coating to the butterfly-shaped reflector.
FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C are diagrams for explaining modified examples
of the reflector. As illustrated schematically, the disposition
angle of the reflection surfaces of the reflector may be different
from that in FIG. 3, and the number of reflection surfaces may not
be two.
FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating a butterfly-shaped reflector 71
in which two reflection surfaces 71b and 71c are not aligned on one
straight line. As in FIG. 11A, the two reflection surfaces 71b and
71c may not be oriented so as to form an angle of 180 degrees. In
the case where the butterfly-shaped reflector 71 is used, it is
recommended that the LED dies 4a and 4b and the photodiodes A1, A2,
B1, and B2 be disposed in accordance with the angle formed by the
two reflection surfaces 71b and 71c. In other words, it is
recommended that the LED die 4a and the photodiodes A1 and B1 on
one side be disposed in accordance with the reflection surface 71b
on the one side, and that the LED die 4b and the photodiodes A2 and
B2 on the other side be disposed in accordance with the angle of
the reflection surface 71c on the other side with respect to the
reflection surface 71b.
FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a clover-shaped reflector 72
having three reflection surfaces 72b, 72c, and 72d protruding
radially from the center through which the rotating shaft passes.
In the case where the clover-shaped reflector 72 is used, it is
recommended that the LED die 4a and the photodiodes A1 and B1, the
LED die 4b and the photodiodes A2 and B2, and an LED die 4c and
photodiodes A3 and B3 be disposed in accordance with angles formed
by the three reflection surfaces 72b, 72c, and 72d,
respectively.
FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating a clover-shaped reflector 73
having four reflection surfaces 73b, 73c, 73d, and 73e protruding
radially from the center through which the rotating shaft passes.
Also in the case where the clover-shaped reflector 73 is used, it
is recommended that the LED die 4a and the photodiodes A1 and B1,
the LED die 4b and the photodiodes A2 and B2, the LED die 4c and
the photodiodes A3 and B3, and an LED die 4d and photodiodes A4 and
B4 be disposed in accordance with angles formed by the four
reflection surfaces 73b, 73c, 73d, and 73e, respectively.
In the case where the reflector in any one of FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C
is also used, the LED light source may be one in number.
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of a signal processing circuit 13' of
a position transducer that uses the clover-shaped reflector 72 in
FIG. 11B. As illustrated in FIG. 12, even if the number of LEDs and
photodiodes increases, the signal processing circuit of the
position transducer may be similar to the signal processing circuit
13 illustrated in FIG. 5. Specifically, the photodiodes A1, A2, and
A3 and the photodiodes B1, B2, and B3 are connected in parallel,
respectively, and three LEDs 20 are connected in series. This
remains the same even if the number of LEDs and photodiodes
changes. The rest of the signal processing circuit 13' is the same
as that of the signal processing circuit 13 in FIG. 5.
It may also be possible to use a rectangular LED chip, for example,
as two light sources by covering the central part of the LED chip
with a light shielding part, in place of providing a plurality of
LED dies.
Further, as the diffused light source, it may also be possible to
use an LED having a large chip area. It may also be possible to use
light in the visible light region by changing the material of the
optical element. Further, it may also be possible to provide a
hemispherical lens by using a highly thixotropic transparent resin
or glass, in order to efficiently direct diffused light of the LED
die toward the butterfly-shaped reflector.
Preferably, the LED die is mounted directly on the printed circuit
board so that the photodiodes are not illuminated directly with
diffused light of the LED die. However, the LED die and the
photodiodes may not be disposed on the same plane.
As the reflector, it may also be possible to use a resin fabricated
into, for example, the shape of a butterfly, by using a mold, etc.,
and which is provided with a reflection surface by plating, etc.
Further, it may also be possible to press fit and fix a reflector
provided with a hole in its central part to the rotating shaft of
the rotation restriction motor, not only by fitting. By attaching
the reflector to the rotating shaft by fitting, the alignment work
with the rotating shaft is no longer necessary, and thus the
manufacturing cost is reduced.
As the diffused-light absorbing member, it may also be possible to
make use of an aluminum material having been subjected to black
matting. Further, it may also be possible to make use of a
non-reflective coating agent, such as black nickel plating, a black
resin, etc. In the case where light in the visible light region is
used, as the diffused-light absorbing member, it may also be
possible to make use of an anodic oxide coating (black-matted
alumite).
The longer the distance from the reflection surfaces of the
butterfly-shaped reflector to the diffused light absorber, the
greater the improvement effect. However, from the practical
viewpoint, preferably, the distance is set to about 0.2 mm to 5 mm.
If the member on the fixed side of the rotation restriction motor
is located at a distance where light that reaches the detector from
a portion other than the reflector is sufficiently attenuated, it
is not necessary to dispose the diffused-light absorbing member in
the member on the fixed side. In the case where the inner surface
of the casing is sufficiently distant from the detector, it is not
necessary to cover the inner surface of the casing with the
diffused-light absorbing member.
Preferably, a shielding part in the shape of a fan is provided by
aluminum vapor deposition, etc., on the surface of the photodiode,
so that light is prevented from reaching unnecessary portions of
the detector. Further, preferably, as four photodiodes, those
extracted from the positions close to one another in one wafer are
used in order to reduce variations in the characteristics.
Furthermore, preferably, the spectral sensitivity wavelength of the
photodiode is the same as the peak wavelength of the LED described
above.
For the purpose of improving the mount accuracy of four
photodiodes, it may also be possible to fabricate a photodiode
array in which, for example, A1 and B1 make a pair. Further, it may
also be possible to use a p-layer substrate as the photodiode array
in order to share the signal processing circuit in the subsequent
stage. Furthermore, it may also be possible to use a photodiode
array in which A1 and B1, and A2 and B2 make two pairs fabricated
by the process for digging the region in which the LED die is
mounted. It may also be possible to use a photodiode array formed
into a monolithic form and to dispose an LED corresponding
thereto.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
This invention is a position transducer to be mounted on a rotation
restriction motor configured to drive optical parts, such as a
mirror, for scanning laser light.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
1 rotation restriction motor 2 rotating shaft 3 diffused light
absorber 3d diffused-light absorbing member 4 LED die 5 case 6
printed circuit board 7 butterfly-shaped reflector 8 bearing 9
connector 10 rotor 11 detector 13, 13' signal processing circuit 20
LED 21a, 21b current-voltage conversion unit 22 subtractor 23 adder
24 comparator 25 integration circuit 26a current amplifier 27
resistor 28a AGC circuit 100, 200 position transducer
* * * * *